In the News

By: Erika Leigh, August 6, 2018

Aug072018

Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst met with ag producers in Sibley on Monday night for a roundtable on multiple issues the industry is facing.

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Ernst spent nearly two hours with producers for Osceola County on Monday night. Tim Peelen, who producers corn, soybeans, alfalfa and has livestock, said it's important those in Washington, D.C., listen.

"How are they gonna know where we're doing back here if we don't have that access?" Peelen said. "I applaud her for going around to all the counties in the whole state and talking to people. whether she hears good or bad, she's willing to listen."

Ernst comes from a family farming background and said while she represents Iowa, the concerns she's hearing are from all across the Midwest and said, the President needs to understand that.

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Other topics on the table Monday night included making E-15 gas available year-round and proposed changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) as part of the new 2018 farm bill.

Ernst told attendees she's got the President's ear on ag issues. The President refused to sign a proposal for E-15 that was tied to putting Renewable Identification Numbers (RINs) on exports, after hearing from a staffer that she wouldn't be pleased.